Figure 1.--

The Soviets and the Allies in the final year of the War after D-Day in the West and Bagration in the East, formed technical teams with military and industrial expertise to follow in the wake of their advancing armies. The two most important countries involved were the Soviets and Americans, but the British were also active. Their objective was to seize advanvanced weapons systems, associated documents and research records, and important scientists. The Germans and to a lesser extent the Japanese had produced not only some of the most effective weapons of the war, but wepons employing innovative high technology (jet aircraft, guided and balistic missles, rockets, nerve gas, advanced submarines, and much more). Most of this was German scintific work. The Japanese weapons were mostly based on the German work. The high-tech weapns were not among the most effective, but did have enormous potential for future military technology. This effort was given substantial priority. There were several reaons for this. First, was the fact that the Cold War was already under way. The Soviets had begun the Cold war from an early phase and stalkin had expanded it. The Americans were less aware of it, but the American military was already very concerned. The British because of Churchillwere more aware of the Soviet threat. Second, the Allies were on the receiving end of the advanced German weapons. They wanted details on these weapons and what oter projects the Germans were developing. Third, from an early point of the war there was concern that the Germans were building a nuclear weapon. Thus there was a desire to find how far the Germans got. Only with the capture of Heisenberg, could the allies be sure that the Germans were far from eveloping bomb. The Soviets were especially interested in the German atomic program because they were so far behind the Americans. One historian suggests that Stalin's obsssion with beating the americans tp Berlin was at least in part because the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute was located there. Four, there was only limited intelligence information. The allies just did not know what else the Germans may have. Five, Japan had not yet surendered and most believed that the war might drag on anotgervyea, perhps two. . There was hope that some of th e German technonolgy might prove useful in the Pacific.

Technical Teams

The Soviets and the Allies in the final year of the War after D-Day in the West and Bagration in the East, formed technical teams with military and industrial expertise to follow in the wake of their advancing armies.

Countries

The two most important countries involved were the Soviets and Americans, but the British were also active. The Soviets got to Berlin first, nuch much of the rest og Germamy was oberrun by the western Allies, including ares subsequently turned over to the Soviets. This meant that the allie teansere aboe to operate in large areas of what was to become the soviet occuption zone.

United States

The American effort to find and seize German technology was a substantial effort involving many agencies and and industrial corporations. The individual teams collecting military and industrial information and documents, as well as scientits consisted of mall groups of both military and industrial experts. They worked independently. They were recruited from military or Government laboratories and from industrial corporations. The men were experts in their respective fields. As they were Knowing the state of development in their specialties in their own countries, they were able to quickly assess judge whether German development was useful oreven highy superior to American work, they could make informed decesions. It was especially important for those teansworking in the areas of eastern Germany to be turned over to the soviets to opeate quickly. The various teams reported to their own field agencies. The reports were usually classified 'secret' until after the surrender of Germany (May 1845) and Japan (August 1945). There was a first little coorintion beteen the various agencies fiekding teams and as the teams worked independently, some targets, especially corporate facilities, were bisited more than conce. And in the case of those corporations and institutes most involved with the military, what som teams passed over, other teams seized. More than ten agencies field technical teams. Some likethe Ofiice of stratehic services (OSS) are well known to those well read in World War II. Ohers are virtually unknown to even World war II experts,

Soviet Union

The Soviet effort to seze German technology wa largely conducted by the NKVD.

Britain

Objective

The objective of the technical teamswas to seize advanvanced weapons systems, associated documents and research records, and important scientists. The Germans and to a lesser extent the Japanese had produced not only some of the most effective weapons of the war, but wepons employing innovative high technology (jet aircraft, guided and balistic missles, rockets, nerve gas, advanced submarines, and much more). Most of this was German scintific work. The Japanese weapons were mostly based on the German work. The high-tech weapns were not among the most effective, but did have enormous potential for future military technology.

Priority

his effort was given substantial priority. There were several reaons for this. First, was the fact that the Cold War was already under way. The Soviets had begun the Cold war from an early phase and stalkin had expanded it. The Americans were less aware of it, but the American military was already very concerned. The British because of Churchillwere more aware of the Soviet threat. Second, the Allies were on the receiving end of the advanced German weapons. They wanted details on these weapons and what oter projects the Germans were developing. Third, from an early point of the war there was concern that the Germans were building a nuclear weapon. Thus there was a desire to find how far the Germans got. Only with the capture of Heisenberg, could the allies be sure that the Germans were far from eveloping bomb. The Soviets were especially interested in the German atomic program because they were so far behind the Americans. One historian suggests that Stalin's obsssion with beating the americans tp Berlin was at least in part because the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute was located there. Four, there was only limited intelligence information. The allies just did not know what else the Germans may have. Five, Japan had not yet surendered and most believed that the war might drag on anotger year, perhps two. . There was hope that some of th e German technonolgy might prove useful in the Pacific.

Created: 1:28 AM 12/31/2015
Last updated: 1:28 AM 12/31/2015